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Some days ya just want to say “Suck it, diabetes.” And maybe you want to wrastle with your already dead, blackened, decrepit pancreas and punch it in the face.

Today was one of those days for me. For the following reasons:

1. I didn’t feel good and I was in a bad mood with a lot on my mind that I needed to figure out. When these things occur I am not exactly hungry and I find it annoying to have to take a break from feeling sorry for myself and try to find something to eat before I pass out. Diabetes is a rude brat. (And if any of you reading this are thinking I’m the brat I will punch you in the face.)

2. I opened my new pack of juice boxes I keep on hand for low blood sugars and realized I bought the kind that has “less sugar and naturally sweetened” blah blah blah. That’s all fine and dandy for moms wanting to feed their kids something healthier, but it kind of defeats the purpose for me. Not only does it not taste as good as the normal kind I now have to drink two of the darn things to equal one of the more sugary kind to get my blood sugar raised appropriately. Diabetes is a rude brat. (Don’t you dare think that about me, readers! Remember my earlier threats?)

3. Washed my sheets today and I hop in bed to get all snug as a bug in my fresh clean blankets, roll to the side, and yep… feel the sting on my pump insertion site telling me I ripped part of it out. Now I gotta get out of my nice, clean bed and change out my site. Bleh. Diabetes is a rude brat. (Yeah, maybe I am a brat too. Deal with it, yo!)

On another note…. I was in Walgreens buying a lovely birthday card for a lady I work with and at the check out you can once again donate to JDRF. I hope you all think of me and my bad day next time you are checking out at Walgreens and open your wallets a little more, maybe toss a buck or two JDRF’s way in honor of me and my fellow type 1 comrades.

If you made it to the end I thank you for listening to my rantings. You’re swell people.

Ah…myths of the type 1 diabetes. Something we diabetics deal with on occasion when well-doers try to scold us whenever they see us with a grain of sugar in our little diabetic hands.

“Are you supposed to be eating that?” – Said with a “you’re going to die” type of look.

Today I would like to bust some Type 1 Diabetic myths in the face. Emily style.

Myth #1: Can’t eat sugar.

Fact: We can eat anything non-diabetic (normals) can. Granted it wouldn’t be wise to eat 10 candy-bars in one sitting, but then again normals shouldn’t do that either. The beauty of an insulin pump is that I can eat what I want when I want and give myself insulin to counteract it. It’s not a matter of “can I eat that?” but “Is it worth it?” Certain foods affect a diabetics blood sugar differently, and those certain foods vary on the person. I know there are foods that will raise me higher than other foods, and I need to decide if I want to use up more insulin to handle it or make a different choice.

Myth #2: Obesity and/or too much sugar cause type 1 diabetes

Fact: This has nothing to do with type 1 diabetes, but can be a trigger for type 2. This doesn’t always trigger type 2, family history plays a big role. If type 2 runs in your family, you should pay attention, talk to your doctor, and take steps to help prevent getting the disease later in life. Watch yourselves. As for type 1, well, who knows if you will get it. It’s like a tiny evil leprechaun that will break into your home in the middle of the night and stab your pancreas until it dies.

Myth #3: Insulin is the cure.

Fact: Insulin lets me live another day so I can kick around and do weird things, but it is not a cure. There is no cure. Yet. Please feel free to go to your local Walgreen’s this month and donate to JDRF so they can continue research to find a cure. 🙂

Myth #4: Only kids get Type 1

Fact: While usually the pancreas destruction happens as a young cone, it can actually happen at any age….but usually as a child or young adult. You think because you’re an adult you can ward off the evil pancreas killing leprechaun? You’re wrong. You must be vigilant always. (I hope no one reading this really believes there is an evil pancreas murdering leprechaun. If you do, I suggest you seek a mental health professional. ASAP.)

Peace out, my peeps. I do believe I am done writing for the evening. If there is a suspected myth you would like me to bust in the face, please let me know and I’ll see what I can do.

Throughout the month of July, visit your local Walgreens to support JDRF. Purchase a scannable at the register to donate $1 to help fund type 1 diabetes research. Walgreens has been a partner of JDRF for 20 years, raising a total of $20 million! Help to make this year another successful one by supporting the efforts of this valued JDRF Corporate Partner.

You know how you see all these photos on Facebook or email forward that go something like this…

“If you love Jesus, you will share this”

“If you want to win a billion dollars, ‘Like’ this”

“All your dreams will come true if you forward this to 50 people”

And yada yada yada?

Well, if you are my friend you will go to Walgreen’s and donate a dollar when you check out at the register.

If you decide to not do this, well then, I don’t even want to tell you what is going to happen to you! Bad things!

Ok ok…I’m totally kidding on all of this. I mean, I won’t really disown anyone as my friend if they don’t donate a little old dollar at Walgreen’s in the month of July to benefit JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation)…and by association me… your friend, your type 1 diabetic friend. Do you feel guilty, yet? Should I continue?

Really, I’m kidding. As I’ve said before everyone has their own charities and organizations they give their money to. Obviously, I’m a big supporter of Walgreen’s doing this and I wanted to share with you fine people. For 40 years JDRF has been a leader in funding research projects for Type 1 diabetes. The progress that has been made since I was diagnosed in 1989 is astounding, and JDRF is a major player in making those changes happen.

1989:

I was testing my blood sugar 8 – 10 times a day

Took a shot twice a day

Had to eat by a strict schedule. To vary was to mess my blood sugars up and cause frequent highs and lows.

Getting 1/2 a candy bar once a year at Easter was a treat.

2012:

I have a continuous glucose monitor to monitor my levels every 5 min. Only have to physically prick my fingers 2 times a day now.

Insulin Pump. Change site every 3 days.

Can eat whenever and whatever…due to the insulin pump (not every Type 1 has one, but the majority probably does)

There are a million other things that are better, but I don’t have the time to list everything.

I’ll get off my soap box now. Just letting you all know you can donate a dollar to JDRF through Walgreen’s this month.